We caught up with Salford law student Emma Clarke who talks us through her experience studying at Salford, the world of mooting and how Salford Business School supported in her journey to success. Here’s what she had to say…
Life at Salford
When I started at Salford, I never expected to experience everything I have done. It goes without saying that the teaching staff have without a doubt made the experience for me. I was taught by people who believed in me before I truly believed in myself.
For me, the moment that stands out above everything was when I travelled to Zambia to represent the UK in the Commonwealth Mooting Competition. We had three days of intense mooting against teams from all over the world, and even a bit of spare time to travel and see the sights. I picked up skills and made friends that I will keep with me for a lifetime and I will forever be grateful to the University for the generous funding which made every part of the trip possible.
The Placement Experience
I worked as an intern within the in-house legal team at Viacom Media Networks, who are a multinational television and media company. My day to day duties included drafting a wide range of consumer products contracts as well as dealing with counterfeit and trademark-related issues.
I could not have asked for a better placement experience, it truly allowed me to grow as a person and I saw a huge increase in my confidence. Working in a legal team for such a large company was incredibly fast-paced which meant I had to pick things up quickly and be very organised. These are all skills that have carried forward into my final year – I’ve seen such an improvement in my grades. I even got to visit their New York offices in July, which was an incredible experience!
Preparation for a Successful Career in Law
I think almost every aspect of my studies at Salford has prepared me for life after University. From learning the principles of accounting and marketing in first year to the professional development module in second year, there is certainly ample opportunity to advance real-world skills that will make you stand out in the highly competitive graduate field.
Ultimately it was the mooting opportunities at Salford that changed my entire experience.
Not only did it help me to decide that I wanted to pursue a career at the Bar, but it also allowed me to develop skills that I may not have picked up elsewhere. I was fortunate enough to be successful in both national and international mooting competitions which not only hugely increased my confidence with public speaking but also allowed me to develop a network of peers from across the world. Not only that, but it is a great talking point at interviews too! Mooting requires resilience and the ability to think fast under pressure which has most certainly helped me develop skills that I know will favour me in the future.
Life after the University of Salford
I’ve secured a place to study the Barristers Training Course at BPP University this September and I was fortunate enough to be awarded both their Academic Excellence and Advocacy Scholarships to help fund my studies. In addition to this, I was one of few applicants to be awarded a Major Scholarship from Inner Temple this year meaning my course fees are now fully covered. This has given me the motivation I need to complete the final years of my law degree and continue my journey to becoming a qualified barrister and I will forever be grateful to my wonderful lecturers at Salford for supporting me in every way possible
Advice for Prospective Salford Law Students
It will be some of the best years of your life. My biggest piece of advice to anyone embarking on a law degree is do not compare yourself to other people, everyone’s journey will be different and although it’s hard to get caught up in such a competitive field, remember that everything happens for a reason. This is something that’s really helped me throughout my four years. Finally, just enjoy every moment and don’t be afraid to dream big. If you believe you can do it, you’re already halfway there.
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